A teenage cancer survivor has been crowned ‘Young Person of the Year’ at a national disability charity’s annual awards after wowing her family with her resilience.

Emily Swales, 16, of Armitage Bridge, has a range of complex disabilities and was diagnosed with bone cancer in February 2023.

Emily has been through an intense chemotherapy process, in total having 14 chemotherapy treatments, 12 blood transfusions and six weeks of radiotherapy treatment.

Her parents say she has taken everything in her stride and did everything she was asked to, including travelling to Birmingham for surgery, and going back to school in between chemotherapy sessions when she felt well enough.

Emily is still using a wheelchair nine months after her treatment finished and doctors hope to reconstruct her leg to improve her mobility.

In recognition of Emily’s amazing resilience over the past 18 months, she has won Sense’s Young Person of the Year Award.

Emily, who also suffered the trauma of losing her ‘best friend’ – the family dog Wendy – during her treatment, said: “You should never stop trying, never stop believing, never give up, life is for living and I intend to live mine to the full.”

 

 

Emily’s parents Caroline, 60, and Andrew, 57, were unsure how they were going to get through the treatment, especially given Emily’s disabilities and her level of understanding. However, their daughter dealt with her situation in a way they could have never imagined.

Proud mum Caroline said Emily had done everything she’s been asked to do with a smile.

She added: “If there is one thing as parents of an additional needs child we have learnt, it’s that everyone who’s disabled or has sensory impairments goes through tough times, but they know that tough times don’t last but tough people do!”

 

 

Emily collapsed with low blood sugars at just three days old. She has an acquired brain injury from neonatal hypoglycaemia, which has caused her to have a range of complex disabilities including global development delay, epilepsy, a visual impairment, cerebral palsy and autism.

Emily was diagnosed with bone cancer in February 2023, after attending A&E when she injured her ankle at a trampoline park.

When doctors noticed an abnormality in her leg bone, she had further tests including an MRI scan and a biopsy, which confirmed a rare and aggressive bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. That was followed by intensive treatment.

Richard Kramer, chief executive at Sense, said: “Emily’s story has touched everyone at Sense, who have been blown away by her incredible resilience and positive attitude at a time of adversity.

“We’re so glad that Emily has won this Sense Award and we hope it’s brought a smile to the whole family.”